Insulin regulation in AhR-null mice: Embryonic cardiac enlargement, neonatal macrosomia, and altered insulin regulation and response in pregnant and aging AhR-null females

E. A. Thackaberry, E. J. Bedrick, M. B. Goens, L. Danielson, A. K. Lund, D. Gabaldon, S. M. Smith, M. K. Walker

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

54 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was originally characterized because of its high affinity binding of 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. However, studies using AhR-null mice have demonstrated the importance of this protein in normal physiology and development. Here we demonstrate that AhR-null embryos develop cardiac enlargement, and that this phenotype is dependent, at least in part, on the maternal genotype. Neonates born to AhR-null females had increased heart weights regardless of the neonatal genotype, an outcome also observed in gestational diabetes. The cardiac hypertrophy markers, beta-myosin heavy chain and atrial natriuretic factor, and the cardiac proliferative index were increased in AhR-null embryos, indicating that the cardiac enlargement is associated with myocyte hypertrophy and hyperplasia, which begin prior to birth. Importantly, two- to three-month-old pregnant and seven-month-old nonpregnant females, but not nonpregnant three-month-old AhR-null females had significantly decreased fasting plasma insulin levels and a reduced ability to respond to exogenous insulin compared to controls. Despite these alterations in insulin regulation and responsiveness, pregnant AhR females did not have abnormal glucose tolerance tests and did not develop hyperglycemia, classic characteristics of gestational diabetes. However, twenty-three percent of seven-month-old AhR-null females did have altered glucose tolerance tests, but did not show hyperglycemia or increased hemoglobin A1C concentration under normal feeding conditions. While the ultimate cause of the neonatal phenotype remains unclear, these studies establish that the AhR is required for normal insulin regulation in pregnant and older mice and for cardiac development in embryonic mice.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)407-417
Number of pages11
JournalToxicological Sciences
Volume76
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • AhR
  • Embryonic cardiac enlargement
  • Insulin regulation
  • Neonatal macrosomia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology

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